UK Bovine TB Tests in Cattle Face Legal Challenge
Date: 08-Feb-06
Country: UK
Britain's farm ministry announced in mid-December it would introduce compulsory pre-movement testing of some cattle, effective February 20, and said it would consult on a possible badger cull to tackle the rapidly spreading disease.
The NFU cited a lack of public consultation, inadequate veterinary staff to carry out testing and paperwork issues among its concerns.
Britain's farm ministry said on Tuesday it had no plans to delay the start of pre-movement testing, which formed part of a bovine TB consultation in 2004.
"It is in the interests of farmers to cooperate with pre-movement testing. The economic benefits to the farming industry of a lower incidence of bovine TB are self-evident," the ministry said in a statement.
The NFU has argued that both pre-movement testing of cattle and a badger cull should be enacted at the same time. A cull is strongly opposed by wildlife groups such as the Badger Trust and by the animal welfare charity RSPCA.
Badgers are a wildlife host of bovine TB.
"We fully appreciate the demand for pre-movement testing but it must be carried out in an effective way and be part of a coordinated approach to tackling the disease. Currently that isn't the case," said NFU president Tim Bennett.
The public consultation on a badger cull is due to run until March 10.
